Love in the Torah 2/3
Those Who Are Attached to God With a Profound Love Are Loyal and Devout
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. (Proverbs, 3:3-4)
They would not be like their forefathers—a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to Him. (Psalm, 78:8)
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah, 6:8)
Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy faithfulness. (Psalm, 37:3)
Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from Heaven. (Psalm, 85:10-11)
... for they were faithful in consecrating themselves. (2 Chronicles, 31:18)
For He guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones. (Proverbs, 2:8)
All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of His covenant. (Psalms, 25:10)
He will guard the feet of His faithful servants, but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness. (1 Samuel, 2:9)
Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. (Isaiah, 11:5)
Love the Lord, all His faithful people! the Lord preserves those who are true to Him… (Psalm, 31:23)
For the Lord loves justice and will not abandon His faithful ones. They are kept safe forever… (Psalm, 37:28)
… He promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—but let them not turn to folly. (Psalm, 85:8)
Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for He guards the lives of His faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. (Psalm, 97:10)
May your priests be clothed with righteousness; may Your saints sing for joy... I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints will ever sing for joy. (Psalm, 132:9, 16)
All Your works praise You, Lord; Your faithful people extol You. (Psalm, 145:10)
Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of His faithful people. Let His faithful people rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds. (Psalm, 149:1-2,5)
And if in a truthful, just and righteous way you swear, ‘As surely as the Lord lives’…(Jeremiah, 4:2)
See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright—but the righteous will live by his faith. (Habakkuk, 2:4)
To the faithful you show yourself faithful... (Psalm, 18:25)
My eyes will be on the faithful in the land... (Psalm, 101:6)
God Helps the Believers
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be over all the earth. Save us and help us with Your right hand, that those You love may be delivered. (Psalm, 108:5-6)
Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for He guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. (Psalm, 97:10)
But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath He swore to your ancestors that He brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. (Deuteronomy, 7:8)
Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You. Sing the praises of the Lord… proclaim among the nations what He has done. (Psalm, 9:10-11)
I keep my eyes always on the Lord. with Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because You will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will You let your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand. (Psalm, 16:8-11)
In you, Lord my God, I put my trust. I trust in You… Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. (Psalm, 25:1-4, 5)
Love the Lord, all His faithful people! the Lord preserves those who are true to Him… (Psalm, 31:23)
Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. (Psalm, 37:1-7)
The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; He is their stronghold in time of trouble. the Lord helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him. (Psalm, 37:39-40)
I will cry to God Most High, to God Who accomplishes all things for me. He will send from heaven and save me; He reproaches him who tramples upon me. God will send forth His lovingkindness and His truth. (Psalm, 57:2-3)
But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. You are my strength, I sing praise to You; You, God, are my fortress, my God on Whom I can rely. (Psalm, 59:16-17)
You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to You…. for great is Your love toward me; You have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead. (Psalm, 86:5, 13)
Yet I am always with You; You hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory. (Psalm, 73:23-24)
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges My name.’’ (Psalm, 91:14)
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. His love endures forever… He remembered us in our low estate; His love endures forever; and freed us from our enemies; His love endures forever. (Psalm, 136:1,23-24)
When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; He brought me into a spacious place. the Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? the Lord is with me; He is my helper… It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans… I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me. the Lord is my strength and my defense; He has become my salvation. Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous… I will proclaim what the Lord has done… This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter. I will give You thanks, for You answered me; You have become my salvation… the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. the Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad. Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord… the Lord is God, and He has made His light shine on us... (Psalm, 118:5-27)
He will guard the feet of his saints, but the wicked will be silenced in darkness. “It is not by strength that one prevails.” (1 Samuel, 2:9)
God Leads His Beloved Servants to Success
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life. You stretch out Your hand against the anger of my foes. (Psalm, 138:7)
The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!... I will praise You, Lord, among the nations; I will sing the praises of Your Name. He gives His king great victories; He shows unfailing love to His anointed, to David and to His descendants forever. (Psalm, 18:46-50)
My faithful love will be with him, and through My name his horn will be exalted. (Psalm, 89:24)
But You are a shield around me, O Lord; You bestow glory on me and lift up my head. (Psalm, 3:3)
Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to Your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to You and righteous and upright in heart...” (1 Kings, 3:6)
Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. (Proverbs, 16:20)
It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your face, for You loved them. (Psalm, 44:3)
Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. (Joshua, 1:8)
God Gives Happiness to Those Who Seek His Consent
But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. (Jeremiah, 17:7)
Blessed are they who keep His statutes and seek Him with all their heart. (Psalm, 119:2)
Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in His ways. (Psalm, 128:1)
Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. (Psalm, 119:1)
Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. (Psalm, 40:4)
Blessed are those whose strength is in You... (Psalm, 84:5)
... Blessed is the man... whose spirit is no deceit. (Psalm, 32:2)
O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in You. (Psalm, 84:12)
... Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in His commands. (Psalm, 112:1)
Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right. (Psalm, 106:3)
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding. (Proverbs, 3:13)
Blessed is the man whom God corrects... (Job, 5:17)
... [Wisdom] is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed. (Proverbs, 3:18)
Happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart—they do no wrong but follow His ways. You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all Your commands. I will praise You with an upright heart as I learn Your righteous laws. I will obey Your decrees; do not utterly forsake me. How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to Your word. (Psalm, 119: 1-4, 6-9)
Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. (Proverbs, 16:20)
... the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. (Psalm, 34:8)
How happy Your officials, who continually stand before You and hear Your wisdom! (1 Kings, 10:8; 2 Chronicles, 9:7)
... Blessed are all who take refuge in Him. (Psalm, 2:12)
Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers him in times of trouble. (Psalm, 41:1)
... Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord. (Psalm, 144:15)
... Blessed are those who keep My ways. (Proverbs, 8:32)
Maintain justice and do what is right... Blessed is the man who does this, the man who holds it fast... (Isaiah, 56:1-2)
My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. (Proverbs, 3:1-2)
Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. (Proverbs, 21:21)
The Lives of Those Who Believe Are Filled With Blessings of Faith, Love and Good Morals
My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. (Proverbs, 3:1-2)
Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. (Proverbs, 21:21)
If only you had paid attention to My commands, your peace would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea. (Isaiah, 48:18)
... May they always say, “The Lord be exalted, Who delights in the well-being of His servant.” (Psalm, 35:27)
Trouble pursues the sinner, but the righteous are rewarded with good things. (Proverbs, 13:21)
Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right… that I may enjoy the prosperity of Your chosen ones, that I may share in the joy of Your nation… (Psalm, 106:3,5)
Who, then, is the man that fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him. He will spend his days in prosperity... (Psalm, 25:12-13)
See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice... Justice will dwell in the desert and righteousness live in the fertile field. the fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever. (Isaiah, 32:1, 16-17)
God Loves Those Who Fear Him
The Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love. (Psalm, 147:11)
You who fear Him, trust in the Lord - He is their help and shield… He will bless those who fear the Lord - small and great alike. (Psalm, 115:11, 13)
But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear Him… (Psalm, 103:17)
Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in His ways. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours... Thus is the man blessed who fears the Lord. (Psalm, 128:1-4)
The fear of the Lord leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble. (Proverbs, 19:23)
He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress... the fear of the Lord is a fountain of life ... (Proverbs, 14:26-27)
Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear Me and keep all My commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever! (Deuteronomy, 5:29)
The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him… (Psalm, 145:18-19)
... the midwives, however, feared God... and because the midwives feared God, He gave them families of their own. (Exodus, 1:17, 21)
The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love… for as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him… the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him… (Psalm, 103:8, 11-13)
… What does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good? (Deuteronomy, 10:12-13)
… But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love. (Psalm, 33:18)
Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. (Psalm, 34:11-14)
You who fear him, trust in the Lord - He is their help and shield… He will bless those who fear the Lord - small and great alike. (Psalm, 115:11, 13)
God Loves Those Who Are Honest
Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to Your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to You and righteous and upright in heart...” (1 Kings, 3:6)
The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse, but He delights in those whose ways are blameless. (Proverbs,11:20)
For the Lord is righteous, He loves justice; the upright will see His face. (Psalm, 11:7)
Because of my integrity You uphold me and set me in Your presence forever. (Psalm, 41:12)
The Lord loves righteousness and justice... (Psalm, 33:5)
… but the Lord upholds the righteous. the blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care, and their inheritance will endure forever. (Psalm, 37:17-18)
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless. (Psalm, 84:11)
The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; He is their stronghold in time of trouble. the Lord helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him. (Psalm, 37:33, 39-40)
The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out. the way of the Lord is a refuge for the righteous, but it is the ruin of those who do evil… (Proverbs, 10:9, 29)
For the Lord loves justice and will not abandon His faithful ones. They are kept safe forever… (Psalm, 37:28)
For the devious are detestable to the Lord, but He is a friend to the upright. the Lord’s curse is on the household of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the righteous; He mocks those who mock, but gives grace to the humble. the wise will inherit honor, but He holds up fools to dishonor. (Proverbs, 3:32- 35)
The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in people who are trustworthy. (Proverbs, 12:22)
The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases Him. the Lord detests the way of the wicked, but He loves those who pursue righteousness. (Proverbs, 15:8-9)
The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse, but He delights in those whose ways are blameless. (Proverbs, 11:20)
God Loves Those Who Are Generous
The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended. One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace will have the King for a friend. (Proverbs, 22:9-11)
Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. (Psalm, 112:5)
... Blessed is he who is kind to the needy. (Proverbs, 14:21)
One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. a generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. (Proverbs, 11:24-25)
The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously. (Psalm, 37:21)
... Do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Rather be openhanded... (Deuteronomy, 15:7-8)
A greedy man stirs up dissension, but he who trusts in the Lord will prosper. (Proverbs, 28:25)
They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed. (Psalm, 37:26)
Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. Surely he will never be shaken... (Psalm, 112:5-6)
The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. (Proverbs, 22:9)
… Do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother... Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to... Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land. (Deuteronomy, 15:7, 10-11)
He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses. (Proverbs, 28:27)
A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops. (Proverbs, 28:3)
If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered. (Proverbs, 21:13)
The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. (Proverbs, 22:9)
God Loves Those Who Have Mercy
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. in doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you. (Proverbs, 25:21-22)
Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the Lord. (Leviticus, 19:14)
Stand up in the presence of the elderly, and show respect for the aged. Fear your God. I am the Lord. (Leviticus, 19:32)
He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy. (Proverbs, 14:21)
He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God. (Proverbs, 14:31)
If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. (Deuteronomy, 15:7)
Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. (Psalm, 82:3-4)
This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. in your hearts do not think evil of each other.” (Zechariah, 7:9-10)
[A virtuous wife] opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. (Proverbs, 31:20)
If I have denied the desires of the poor or let the eyes of the widow grow weary, if I have kept my bread to myself, not sharing it with the fatherless—but from my youth I reared him as would a father, and from my birth I guided the widow—if I have seen anyone perishing for lack of clothing, or a needy man without a garment, and his heart did not bless me for warming him with the fleece from my sheep, if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, knowing that I had influence in court, then let my arm fall from the shoulder, let it be broken off at the joint. for I dreaded destruction from God, and for fear of his splendor I could not do such things. (Job, 31:16-23)
Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers him in times of trouble. (Psalm, 41:1)
Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. (Isaiah, 58:7-8)
... and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. the Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. (Isaiah, 58:10-11)
Do not deprive the alien or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge... When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow. When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow. (Deuteronomy, 24:17-21)
... You shall give it to... the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. Then say to the Lord your God: “I have given it to... the alien, the fatherless and the widow, according to all You commanded. I have not turned aside from Your commands nor have I forgotten any of them. (Deuteronomy, 26:12-13)
Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. (Isaiah, 1:17)
Cursed is the man who leads the blind astray on the road... Cursed is the man who withholds justice from the alien, the fatherless or the widow. Then all the people shall say, “Amen.” (Deuteronomy, 27:18-19)
You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. (Ezekiel, 34:4)
If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place... then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your forefathers for ever and ever. (Jeremiah, 7:5-7)
Woe to those who make unjust laws... to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of My people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless. (Isaiah, 10:1-2)
He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captive. (Psalm, 106:46)
And may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man... (Genesis, 43:14)
Do not rule over them with rigor, but fear your God. (Leviticus, 25:43)
God Loves Those Who Are Right and Just
For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and iniquity. in My faithfulness I will reward them and make an everlasting covenant with them. (Isaiah, 61:8)
The Lord loves righteousness and justice, the earth is full of His unfailing love. (Psalm, 33:5)
“... but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, Who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord. (Jeremiah, 9:24)
He has showed you, O man, what is good. and what does the Lord require of you? to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah, 6:8)
If a king judges the poor with fairness, his throne will always be secure. (Proverbs, 29:14)
For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just... (Genesis, 18:19)
Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right. (Psalm, 106:3)
Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. (Psalm, 112:5-6)
He guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. (Proverbs, 2:8-9)
To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. (Proverbs, 21:3)
These are the things you are to do: “Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; do not plot evil against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,” declares the Lord. (Zechariah, 8:16-17)
See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice... Justice will dwell in the desert and righteousness live in the fertile field. the fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever. (Isaiah, 32:1, 16-17)
Here is My servant, whom I uphold, My chosen one in whom I delight; I will put My Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. in faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. in his law the islands will put their hope. (Isaiah, 42:1-5)
Go up and down the streets... look around and consider... If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city. (Jeremiah, 5:1)
So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be”... They held the king in awe, because they saw that he [Solomon] had wisdom from God to administer justice. (1 Kings, 3:11-12, 28)
